32x40 Pole Barn - shop / man cave

[6th Gear]

This is a great build! Can you give us some more info on the radiant heat?

You said the PEX was included in the price from your builders, how much was the heater and other components to finish out the system? How is it working in a garage with just radiant heat?

What do you expect the total cost to come in at once you include finishing the heating system and doing electrical etc?

Their quote included the pex but I got 5/8" pex in the kit I ordered from Radiantec. So I had them put that $$$ for the pex toward underslab insulation. I went with "The Barrier", the thicker stuff they make, despite mixed viewpoints on here. I'm very happy with the cost (around $700) and performance of it.

I don't recall the exact amount I paid for all the radiant heat materials... I ordered the kit back in late 09. I just got the Takagi Jr tankless a few months ago and it was $500 (or was it $599) I wanna say all of the rest of the components from Radiantec was around $1200.

Figure the copper & gas lines + fittings + stainless exhaust were another couple hundred.

We just switched over to natural gas from propane and our bill has been about $50/mo to heat the garage AND our house so far
Lets see it since the weather got colder last month...

as far as cost of electrical... I'd have to add up about 15 receipts.
Lights were $340 on CL. I forget what the 64 bulbs were...
12/2 wire was ~$250
THen all the boxes, outlets, covers , panel etc...

I don't like to think about how much I had to spend on a project. Instead I look for ways to make more $$ for the next project

I do know that all the insulation was about $750 because I just added up the receipts for a rebate.

With the exception of building some cabinets, I'm done spending $$ on the building. Pretty much everything else I'll want to do on the inside I've been collecting for free or dirt cheap on CL.

 

[6th Gear]

Can you show some better pictures of how you put the insulation in the walls? I have a pole building and want to add insulation and then drywall and some wall cabinets but debating how to go about doing it. Either build a stud wall inside the poles or what.... I don't want to put the girts on the inside of the poles because I will loose a few inches all the way around.

nice looking building!
what sort of power does the civic put down?

I'll look for some close up pics, but it's pretty simple. The space between the posts & studs was perfect width for 3 columns of 15" R19. In the corners the space between posts/studs was slightly less, so one 24" roll and one 15" roll fit perfect. I used 2x6" for the studs and made them flush with the posts. You'll want to have more studs than I did if you're doing drywall. Might even be easier if you build an 8' section of wall studs and then put them in between the posts and nail them to the posts.
For OSB though, the 4' span between posts/studs was ok.

The civic is still in need of a good dyno tune, so no power #'s yet. I'm shooting for 250 whp

 

[Willie Fetter]

Hey I've been following your build it looks great any updates??? I'm planning to build this spring. I want a 40x60 with a divider but in reality I feel I can only afford to build a 32x40 for now.then later down the road build the other half. Can't wait and thanks for sharing your build.

 

[glassgarden99]

Quick question, my husband and I live in Southeast Ohio and have been researching companies to build a garage/pole barn in a few months. We are interested in a garage about 20x40 with a loft for an art studio. I live in an area that has many amish around but don't know how to reach them. If this is in your area is there a possibility to get their information. I have had rediculous quotes ($40,000+) I'm looking to spend between $15-18,000. Does this seem possible? I have no clue on who to trust. Anyone have suggestions on what to watch out for?

 

[Got-Busa?]

Nice setup 6thGear!

What part of Ohio are you in?

 

[OBNXIOUS]

Nice shop! Looking forward to seeing the mancave when you get to it!

 

[6th Gear]

Long time with no updates...
I finished insulating and put up OSB:

Then painted with Killz and put up some old kitchen cabinets, some old mirrors, tv, counter & sink - all of which I have collected for free over the years!

Here's a pic I took before I threw a garage party a few weeks ago.

It's turning out exactly how I wanted, 3/4 garage and 1/4 man cave = good place to hang out and get stuff done.

Here's what the front half looks like:

I'm parting out the white truck and repairing the red one so lately the garage has been a mess like this:

 

[rickairmedic]

Looks like a nice ( and well used ) space . Glad I ran into this as I plan " hopefully " in a couple of years to do a 35X45 addition and your space gives me an idea of the size inside I will be going 35 wide and 45 deep so pretty close to your layout.


Rick

 

[StevenB]

Whats the typical beam OC for a pole barn? 16"?

 

[383]

Nice looking JD 318 as well. Are you on the MTF forum?

 

[NUTTSGT]

It came out looking nice, well used too.

 

[6th Gear]

Nice looking JD 318 as well. Are you on the MTF forum?

I've been there a couple of times when I was having some issues with my JD, no problems lately though. I love this mower

Whats the typical beam OC for a pole barn? 16"?

It varies depending on the design I suppose. My trusses are 24" but my neighbor's are much wider, 36" or 48". I have a shingle roof though while his is metal. I also planned on using my attic for storage and it's full of parts.

I will be going 35 wide and 45 deep so pretty close to your layout.

Go bigger! I already find myself withing I had 8' more length. But in the end you learn to manage the space you have and it only means you can't hoard as much as you'd like- probably a good thing.

 

[HalbertBros.Racing]

you wouldn't think it... but the civic would win!
here's what will be in the garage:

I've been the civic for a while now and just finished the turbo setup this summer. It's only tuned to 5200 rpm right now, and it already scares me

The mustang has your basic I/H/E, lots of suspension goodies, shifter, a little exterior... but it weighs almost twice as much as the civic and it's too nice to cut into, so it's more the car I go somewhere nice with the wife in. She won't ride in the civic and hates it more than anything else I own

What lowering springs and wheels are on the mustang? looks great building and car.

 

[6th Gear]

thanks! Jamex progressive rate springs and Fittipaldi 18x9 Tubolare.

 

[6th Gear]

Well it's been a while...
I have not done much new to the garage, just done work in it.

https://scontent-a-lga.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1.0-9/261286_1770638236498_4228840_n.jpg

Took what I needed from the 86 4x4 and pushed it out side and parted it out

https://scontent-b-lga.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1.0-9/198793_1841542209053_5137475_n.jpg

Dragging what's left of the 86 to scrap yard (kicked the wheels of when I got there) And got a good deal on an 87 4x4 to part out.

I fixed the frame on my 85 yota and got the 86 motor in it, then parted out the 86.

Got the 85 ready to do some offroading in Wellsville, OH:

and a kitty showed up so I adopted her and she lives in the garage now.

 

[6th Gear]

And the cat couldn't have shown up at a better time.... In the fall i was seeing a lot of HUGE black spiders:

I killed them with a torch and noticed that the bodies were disappearing...
Mice were gathering my cooked spiders and collecting them under the fridge!

the 86 going to scrap!

After I scrapped the 86, I got an 87 4x4 for its fiberglass bed:

And I can be kneeling on the floor beating the hell out of something with a BFH and this cat will jump right into my lap!

 

[i8tokyo]

shop cats rock

 

[synik]

Great cave! Thanks for sharing. How is the floor holding up to your standards?

 

[6th Gear]

The floor is doing alright with some normal wear & tear from use where I work on vehicles. I'm probably a little rough on it. The worst thing is dropping a socket or lug nut from a few feet. That's usually a guaranteed chip in the floor.

 

[redman333]

Nice garage. You really like to Frankenstein vehicles don't you?

 

[K2Orion]

Did they actually take the sod off, or did they just put the stone on top of the grass?

I saw the rock on the grass and thought the same thing. They should have peeled the topsoil off. But I'm sure it will tighten up. Going to leave it rock or pour an apron?

Shop looks awesome. Great place to hang and work.

Done any photo shoots in there yet?

 

[impala_631]

Looking great,I've got a very similar 30x40 that is going through a mancave/shop transformation right now,I can't wait to Get it close to "finished"

 

[6th Gear]

Going to leave it rock or pour an apron?

Done any photo shoots in there yet?

We did get the apron pored the next year

And funny thing is no I'm not even close to using the space for photography. With vehicles, projects, finishing the garage etc... I'm nowhere close

 

[unomystz]

nice shop/man cave man... nice civic as well. I rock a boosted EP myself.

 

[6th Gear]

It's going to be for sale soon..
I have a daughter on the way
I'll miss the car buy I'm ready for something with heat, sound deadening, a little more suspension travel... most likely a 4 door Integra

 

[cnyeco1]

And the cat couldn't have shown up at a better time.... In the fall i was seeing a lot of HUGE black spiders:

I killed them with a torch and noticed that the bodies were disappearing...
Mice were gathering my cooked spiders and collecting them under the fridge!

the 86 going to scrap!

After I scrapped the 86, I got an 87 4x4 for its fiberglass bed:

And I can be kneeling on the floor beating the hell out of something with a BFH and this cat will jump right into my lap!

You're a good man for taking that cat in. THANK YOU. My wife and I have adopted 5 strays and I took one into my garage. Pain sometimes but they keep the house and shop clean of bugs and mice.

 

[6th Gear]

We found 4, found homes for 2 of those, then found another one less than 2 weeks old and brought him back to health and kept him (best cat ever) for a total of 3 inside cats and now this one shows up. We're maxed out with 4 total now because this cat will fight every other animal that comes near the garage/house.
I have not seen any more mice or any evidence of mice since we got this cat though
She's a great garage cat except I caught her on the mustang 3 times! If I leave the hood open it helps. I still found cat prints on the trunk though.

 

[64dragnwagon]

shop cats rock

Agreed, I got a shop cat for my used car lot to control the mouse problem and have NEVER seen any sign of a mouse since then.

 

[6th Gear]

Wow, almost a year since last update!!
I noticed that most of the previous pics were no longer linked... I re-hosted and linked most of them - still have a few more to find.

I have a 7 mo old daughter now.
I've also decided to sell the civic I drove it maybe 3 times last year... just don't have the time that I used to.
I bought an 06 Acura TSX for a family-mobile and it has been a great car.

Well here is how the garage is coming along...

Fall 2012. When we had all the flooding in early 2012, I found those Cerwin Vegas sitting on the curb by someone's trash! They must have gotten wet sitting in someone's basement because they reeked of mildew when I took the speakers out to let them dry, but they sound great! The Matco sign might look familiar to anyone who has a Matco Tools Calendar. I think it was the 2009 Calendar that had the sign in the background of the shots. It was a one-off creation for the photo shoot.

Actually, almost EVERYTHING in the man corner was free.
- Cabinets, counter, sink were all free from two kitchens I gutted.
- Bar was built from scrap wood.
- 32" TV was free because it had fallen off a shelf and wouldn't turn on. (turns out the power button just needed pushed back out)
- 19" CRT Sony monitor was free
- G4 Power Mac was free
- mirrors were free from a store remodeling
- Budweiser sign was dad's
- Matco sign was free/barter for hauling some stuff with my truck
- Shiner banner = gift
- the 1/2 beer fridge was free if I hauled it away
- Sony stereo & sofa were given when I helped a friend move

Even on a very tight budget, things came together nicely.

The only things I purchased were:
- 4" casters $20
- barstools $10/ea on CL
- Halogen Ikea lights above sink $10
- pool table was $100 + traded a trampoline (that I got for free)
- lights above pool table were also from Ikea - $15 ea I think...


http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/150301_427564843970741_547527911_n.jpg

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/62084_427564810637411_1757711268_n.jpg
We have Clev. Browns gatherings sometimes on Sunday afternoons but usually switch to playing NES by 4th quarter because they're losing so bad.

The bar is on 4" locking casters so it can be pushed up against the wall in case I need the room for a project.

Construction of the bar and a messy garage.

http://sphotos-a.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/3426_427573240636568_1548331501_n.jpg
Furniture 8)


These are older pics, I have some recent ones on my phone I'll get online soon.

 

[Bullock]

black wheels would look good on the civic. nice car.

 

[6th Gear]

black wheels would look good on the civic. nice car.

 

[6th Gear]

Nice garage. You really like to Frankenstein vehicles don't you?

Frankenstein is fun... Here's some of the other stuff we work on:

Helped a friend fix & flip a TT he got a deal on

always messing with my civic...

then there was the Zombie Accord... full build thread:http://civic-eg.com/viewtopic.php?t=24907
video of the accord competing in the County Fair Rough Truck competition:

friend's Suzuki Sidekick:

a friend's E39 (I love this car and want an excuse to own an E39 Touring wagon one day)

Dirty Birdy aka Thunder Turd - 88 T-bird Turbo Coupe sleeper with a t3/t4 turbo and plenty of flaking clear coat & rust.

I'd love to find a way to make a living doing this stuff... wrenchin' with friends and building cool and/or ghetto ****

edit: oh there was the Dodge Dakota which really turned into more of a day of drinking and pranking our friend with temporary spray paint on his truck:

With a daughter & working all the time, there aren't too many cool projects going on in the garage lately... mostly just storing vehicles for winter.

 

[TeamTruett]

When is the 2 post lift going in, looks like you need one

 

[6th Gear]

Someone asked me about the bar so I thought I'd post more pics of it.
Many people would put a bar in their basement, but our basement has already been finished. That's why the pool table is in the pole barn, so it makes since to build a bar next to it in "man corner".
I don't have any pics of the construction, as I was in a hurry to build it for a party. I had a lot of scrap wood, although nothing for a nice finished bar top at the time. (you can see the base of the frame being built and the unfinished top a few posts back)

First I glued 3/4" plywood to the flimsy 7/16" osb that was serving as a temporary top.

That's a 6' piece of plexi leaning against the fridge. The idea was to put the plexi over the urethane coated plywood, then a darker contrasting wood on both ides. (6' is the longest sheet of plexiglass, bar is 9' long - to give 3 people plenty of elbow room)
The dark wood would be 1/8" thick to sit flush with the plexiglass.

I didn't get any pics of the rest of the construction... but here is the final product. We also put a chair rail trim around the perimeter.

Testing it out right after completion:

Since I'm a photographer, the idea behind the plexiglass is that I can put some of my pics under it:

I put it on locking casters because I want to keep it mobile, in case I ever need to stuff another project in here.

I kept the back open for storage and NES

I didn't want to have a huge space behind the bar and I didn't want to have the bar area extend too far out into the rest of the shop. So I built the bar to 'slide' over the corner of the counter.

When/if I need the space, I can rotate it 90° and push it up to the wall.

Eventually, I'm going to put metal on the face and nicer wood trim on the bottom boards.

 

[NUTTSGT]

The place looks great since I last checked in. A great place to work and a better place to hang out. . . . . Browns losing ? Nah, say it isn't true.

Since you have white faced cabinets in the garage and you mentioned putting metal on the front of the bar, are you using white metal siding, like something used on a enclosed car trailer ?

 

[KayakUSA11]

NICE. I'm planning a 30x40x10 with trusses carried out 14-16' for a carport/general use area. You have provided me some good ideas.
LOOKING for a similar crew/package. Plan to start in April.
Do your people have any connections this way? Perhaps from the Kenton area?
I'm building near Richwood, Ohio.

 

[TeamTruett]

Can I/we see a pic of the attic space? Were the attic trusses much more expensive?

 

[NUTTSGT]

NICE. I'm planning a 30x40x10 with trusses carried out 14-16' for a carport/general use area. You have provided me some good ideas.
LOOKING for a similar crew/package. Plan to start in April.
Do your people have any connections this way? Perhaps from the Kenton area?
I'm building near Richwood, Ohio.

I might be able to get you a phone number for a guy in your area. If I forget, send me a PM to remind me.

 

[6th Gear]

Since you have white faced cabinets in the garage and you mentioned putting metal on the front of the bar, are you using white metal siding, like something used on a enclosed car trailer ?

I was thinking the exterior building sheet metal, like what I have on the ceiling. I actually have that in a galvanized finish to cover the bottom 4' of the walls. I just have not had the time to get to it. (I've had the metal for 2 yrs now - maybe I'll put that up this year!)
I did put up a couple pieces before I put up the radiant heat:

 

[6th Gear]

NICE. I'm planning a 30x40x10 with trusses carried out 14-16' for a carport/general use area. You have provided me some good ideas.
LOOKING for a similar crew/package. Plan to start in April.
Do your people have any connections this way? Perhaps from the Kenton area?
I'm building near Richwood, Ohio.

The crew that build mine only travel up to 20 mi from home to build. It takes too long to go far in a horse/buggy.

Best start is to talk to people in your area with pole barns. Someone will know someone who knows some good amish builders.